The Polk County Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 21 to discuss a number of happenings taking place within the county.

• Tri-County Corrections has signed a new contract for inmate meals. The cost for three meals per day has been reduced to $4.83 per day, which is 13 cents lower per day than the previous contract.

• The Lake Agassiz Regional Library System (LARL) is experiencing a 20 to 25 percent drop in book circulation, however, programming attendance has increased. Library employees are finding themselves assisting a large number individuals filling for state unemployment. LARL continues to operate by dipping into its reserve budget. County Commissioner Board Chair Craig Buness said, "There is only enough reserve money to operate for another six years." Some costs have been cut by not refilling the assistant director position in the Moorhead location.

• Arlet Phillips has been appointed to serve out the remainder of Delores Myerchin's term as the Polk County Township Association Representative on county Planning Commission.

• The county is on track to put the former Z Place and Rock's Jewelry property up for auction on June 21, 2013. The former Professional Building site may be included in this sale as well, pending assessment of the land value and the board's decision on a minimum price.

• Polk County Sheriff Barb Erdmann discussed progress for the 911 update, saying "We are right on track". Erdmann and staff recently received a state grant in excess of $350,000 to put toward the project, greatly lessening the county's contribution.

• Sergeant Brian Lundeen of the Polk County Sheriff's Office discussed the growing need for deputies covering court and providing prisoner transport. The Sheriff's Office is looking to hire two additional deputies to provide scheduling relief to current deputies who have been made to work mandatory overtime for the first time in over 18 years.

• Commissioners met with representatives from Enbridge, a Canadian pipeline construction company, to discuss plans for building the Sandpiper Pipeline, which will run from western North Dakota to Superior, Wisconsin. The pipeline will cut directly through the heart of Polk County, offering landowners a one time payment in an easement agreement and money for crop damages resulting from construction. The county expects to gain significant tax revenue from the project.